Improvement in desks and book-cases



. QSheef s SheeH; l. A. PAYNE. Desks and Book-"Gases.

Patented: May 27, 1873b Nov-139,419

AM. Pnomwmoe/mmm ca MX(08BOR IVE\'9 mocsss) UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JOHN A. PAYNE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DESKS AND BOOK-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,419, dated May 27,1873; application filed May 3, 1873.

' the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a vertical section of mycombination desk. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the same.

My invention relates to desks and it consists in the construction andnovel arrangement of a writing-desk, a revolving reading desk, and arevolving book-case, mounted on an upright pivot and on a horizontalframe or plate which rest on vertical racks with gear-wheels, by whichthe desks and bookcase may be elevated or lowered at pleasure. Theobject of my invention is to furnish a piece of furniture which combinesthe con veniences of thethree above-mentioned articles in such proximitythat a person may make use of either desk and the book-case withoutchanging his position, and that he also may be able to change theelevation so as to suit him, in any attitude he may choose for writingor reading. The advantages of my invention maybe enhanced by theapplication of an adjustable chandelier to the same upright pivot aroundwhich the desk and book-case revolve.

In the drawings,A A A A represent the legs of a table, which may bebraced near the lower ends by the braces B and which are braced above bydiagonal braces O O and an octagonal or round rim D. Below the said rimare fastened the bearmgs E E, which support the shafts F F F F, one ofwhich is provided with a hand-crank, f. At the end of each shaft is abevel-gear, G, gearing into a central bevel-gear, H, which turns on anupright pin or tube, I, and serves to communicate motion from one shaftto the remaining three shafts. The shafts F F F F are prois acombination of several inclined plates connected on top with ahorizontalplate, 0,

through which the tube 1? passes, and another plate or frame, o,whichconnects the lower parts of the desk-plates .O O, and is also pivoted tothe tube P. The writing-desk is fastened to the tube]? between theplateo and the frame 0, and is accessible through the reading-desk byswinging two hinged inclined desk-doors open. The book-case Q revolveson a'tube, R, fastened in the tube P, and travels onthe top-plate o ofthe reading-desk O. The tube 1?. extends above'the book-case and carriesan arm, S, with a burner or chandelier for the application of gaslight.To avoid inconvenience in turning the book-case when it is heavilyloaded with books, the bottom of the book-case should be provided withfriction-rollers q q. Frictionrollers should i also be fastened to thebottom of the reading-desk O to travel on'the frame M of two witnesses.

. JNO. A. PAYNE.

Witnesses: A

ANDREW H ERO, J r., GEo. GRENE.

